CO CO - Gilpin Co., WhtFem, 25-30, burned, off Hwy 119, overbite, Sep'52

[citizen_sleuth]

I compiled a list of all the articles I could find on the case. While doing so, I read that police considered a 40-year-old woman from Idaho last seen in 1949 with a man named "Bill" as a possible match to Jane Doe. However, police ultimately ruled her out based on a letter from her sister which said she had perfect teeth. AFAIK the 'rule out' was not based on an actual dental comparison, just a letter from the woman's sister.

I wonder if this woman was ever found -- if not, it might be worth investigating.

Full list of articles

Bill Miller, "FBI Enters Murder Mystery Probe," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 2 October 1952, pg. 5.

"Nisei Pathologist Seeks Clue to Death in Log Pyre," Colorado Times, 3 October 1952, pg. 6.

Jack Gaskie, "Science Fails to Identify Slain Woman," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 3 October 1952, pg. 6.

Dave Stolberg, "Man Hunted in Pyre Murder," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 3 October 1952, pg. 5.

Jack Gaskie, "Walker Trio Figure in Pyre Slaying Probe," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 5 October 1952, pg. 5, 6, 8.

Bill Miller, "Lie Test for Finder Of Pyre Corpse Slated," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 7 October 1952, pg. 6.

"Discoverer of Pyre Murder Unshaken in Lie Detector Test," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 8 October 1952, pg. 15.

Jack Gaskie, "Break Due Today In Pyre Murder," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 9 October 1952, pg. 5.

"Man Who Cremated Pigeon Sought in Pyre Murder Case," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 11 October 1952, pg. 10.

"2d Big Fracture Found in Pyre Victim's Skull," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 12 October 1952, pg. 30.

"Police Attempt to Link Clues in Pyre Murder," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 13 October 1952, pg. 15.

"Pyre Victim's Head Shown in Wax Sculpture," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 17 October 1952, pg. 26.

"Photo Brings Tips in Pyre Slaying," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 18 October 1952, pg. 14.

"Sheriff Checks Pyre Slaying Tips," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 19 October 1952, pg. 30.

"Police Seek Ex-Convict, 26, In Pyre Murder Inquiry," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 24 October 1952, pg. 60.

Lee Trainor, "Two Wallets Clues in Pyre Murder," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 3 November 1952, pg. 5.

"One Wallet Clue Fails In Pyre Killing Probe," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 4 November 1952, pg. 34.

Dave Stolberg, "Police Seek 'Man With Lisp' In New Pyre Murder Probe," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 15 November 1952, pg. 5, 6.

"'Lisp Man' Sought For Quiz on Pyre," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 17 November 1952, pg. 61.

"Pyre Victim's Face TV'd Across Nation," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 5 January 1953, pg. 24.

"Pyre Murder Face on TV Brings Calls," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 7 January 1953, pg. 34.

"Note Gives Clue To Pyre Murder Victim's Identity," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 6 March 1953, pg. 49.

"More Data Awaited In Pyre Murder Probe," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 7 March 1953, pg. 11.

"Pyre Murder Discoverer Is Being Returned," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 4 April 1953, pg. 8.

"Pyre Body Discoverer To Take Lie Test," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 5 April 1953, pg. 47.

"Police Hope To Solve Old Pyre Murder," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 6 April 1953, pg. 26.

"Damoth Faces 3d Quiz In Pyre Murder Case," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 7 April 1953, pg. 6.

"Detectives Quiz Damoth 7 Hours In Pyre Murder," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 8 April 1953, pg. 32.

Jack Gaskie, "Truth Serum Backs Pyre Murder Alibi," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 9 April 1953, pg. 6.

Bob Whearley, "Man's Tale Revives Unsolved Pyre Murder," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 25 November 1953, pg. 24.

Bob Whearley, "Ex-Convict Seized for Quiz in Pyre Murder," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 26 November 1953, pg. 5, 41.

"Probe of Pyre Murder Moves Over to Granby," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 27 November 1953, pg. 39.

"Pyre Murder Break Proves to Be Fizzle," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 28 November 1953, pg. 10.

"Fresh Clue Offered In Pyre Murder Case," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 10 October 1954, pg. 61.

"Idaho Report May Clear Up 1952 Pyre Murder," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 11 October 1954, pg. 60.

"'52 Pyre Murder Moves Closer to Possible Solution," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 12 October 1954, pg. 6.

"Black Hawk Murder Clue Collapses, Sheriff Reports," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 22 October 1954, pg. 36.

"'52 Blackhawk Murder Case Solution Near?," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), 20 October 1959, pg. 5.

 

[rose_quartz]

I received an email from the case manager. She indicated there is very limited information on the case (probably no information available re the shoe size of the sole found at the scene). She stated she will forward the information re Lorraine Chance to the coroner for further review.

I know it's been awhile, but I wonder if this tip was ever followed up on and explored more? I didn't see any other updates after this post in the thread (apologies if there was and I somehow missed it).
I think there are definitely a lot of physical similarities between this Jane Doe and Lorraine. Some things that give me pause, however, is the time frame and location. Either way, I think it's interesting and perhaps something to consider.

Lorraine Chance Missing Person / NamUs #MP22091

 

[snooptroop88]

I know it's been awhile, but I wonder if this tip was ever followed up on and explored more? I didn't see any other updates after this post in the thread (apologies if there was and I somehow missed it).
I think there are definitely a lot of physical similarities between this Jane Doe and Lorraine. Some things that give me pause, however, is the time frame and location. Either way, I think it's interesting and perhaps something to consider.

Lorraine Chance Missing Person / NamUs #MP22091

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Lorraine looked like her to me as well as I was looking through.

Guess: Maria may have known or hitchhiked with someone coming through the area on I-70, perhaps a truck driver, perhaps someone else who traveled. Looking at maps now, 119 is pretty easy to navigate into from I-70. The driver may have known the broader Denver area at least fairly well, and may have considered the Gilpin location a remote area. Also, they were doing Bobtail Mine tours going back to the 50s and it would have been very close to that area. I know there's talk of a gun found near the site where the remains were recovered, but I'm seeing blunt force trauma listed. They found a Denver tramway token with the remains. I just have the feeling the perp may have been in & out of Denver somewhat frequently, but not necessarily a local per se. For Maria, I see heights with completely different ranges source to source, same with ages. Brown hair.

Maybe this woman?
MP7034 Beverly Sharpman Sept 11 1947 Philadelphia PA

Seen at a train station with suitcase, sent parents telegram saying she was getting married & leaving. On September 10, 1947 she seemed concerned but went to bed without telling her mother what was bothering her. She'd already registered for school when she disappeared, she nonetheless was last seen carrying a suitcase at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Station at 24th & Chestnut. No known boyfriend or anyone with whom she might have eloped. She took $173 from her savings account, quit her job and told people she was going to Chicago. She had family there but those relatives never heard from her. She'd be about 21 in 1952. Wearing earrings when last seen, ears possibly pierced.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Some would say this woman's beyond the age range at 39, I don't think they really have a set age range for Maria:
Bertha Beatrice Smith, June 1944 Missing from Phoenix, 31 missing age (roughly 39 yo in 1952)

Bertha Beatrice McGary born in Texas in 1913, married 1931, married name Dyer. Five children, divorced '42 and moved evidently alone to Arizona. Possibly remarried to a man with last name Smith. In 1944, she wrote a letter to family saying she was returning to Texas and was never seen or heard from again.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

And just seeing an interesting article here about someone that lived in the Gilpin area and who's a suspect with a history of multiple arrests, serial rapist, he's deceased:

Serial rapist emerges as chief suspect in two 40-year-old homicides

Serial rapist emerges as chief suspect in two 40-year-old homicides

www.denverpost.com

Per article: He was known to have traveled in both Texas and Colorado, he was known to have lived in rural Gilpin Cty. He would systematically stage fires and freak accidents. Boasted of murdering men in Texas in the 1950s and 60s, and an avid hunter with many guns. First arrest 1955. If I didn't misread the article, he was estimated to have been married like10 times. He'd be 16yo in 1952.

 

[snooptroop88]

Also-- what's so distinctive about this necklace?? I definitely thought that single earring they found was odd, provided I've spotted the right article on here, but what about the necklace?

I can't see how it's so distinctive from this image. Was it multicolored? Did the sizes on the stones change? They look like they may slightly, but it's slight. Are there holes in the stones? I can't tell from this image, I mean it looks like maybe?? Were they clear stones?

Was it like this? Not exactly like it, but perhaps with colors and some kind of more gradual size change. This is 1940s:

Something like this but smaller, maybe less expensive? This is Bogoff from the 50s:

I'd lean towards something like this. I can't tell if I'm actually seeing holes in the stones on Maria's necklace, but if I am, I'd guess it's by design. If it's something like Bogoff, that's Henry Bogoff, he did innovative designs in rhinestones, moved from NYC to Chicago. Founded 1940, they had showrooms in Chicago, NYC, L.A. Available in multiple retailers by the 50s, including Penney's, Saks, Zales, Carsons, Sears.

So this would be more unusual design in rhinestones for the time, but if she really looked, she could have found it (particularly if she were actually in Chicago, and Beverly Sharpman may have been in Chicago). The unusual design (provided it is like Bogoff) would make me think of someone from a bigger city, maybe someplace more metropolitan/cosmopolitan. Maybe Ruth Jock? Disappeared from Malone, NY 1950, married, she'd run away twice before.

Ruth L. Jock – The Charley Project

Teeth look similar. Hat's kind of a flamboyant look. Someone already mentioned Annie Bell Hannah. Has anyone heard any explanation for how this necklace was distinctive?

 

[Silvia]

Kudos to those of you still working on this case. I've been following it for years and need to dig into this new information. I just wanted to add, though, that I-70 didn't exist in 1952. The main route west from Denver at the time was U.S. 6., so the area where this victim was found was not all that remote, after all.

 

[snooptroop88]

Kudos to those of you still working on this case. I've been following it for years and need to dig into this new information. I just wanted to add, though, that I-70 didn't exist in 1952. The main route west from Denver at the time was U.S. 6., so the area where this victim was found was not all that remote, after all.

Much thanks on this, I was the one who was mentioning I-70, and looked it up after your post & it doesn't exist at this time-- from what I saw, anywhere. But as you noted, Route 6 does, I had to get road maps from prior decades, and it cuts east to west pretty much right across the country, and through CO, and I know when I looked earlier, it paralleled 70 in Colorado. Truckers had to get from state to state somehow in the 50s, I imagine 6 was the route in that state, and many other states. I still wonder if this killer was from out of state. I would think this woman would have already been identified if the victim was in any way local, and that means he had to "find her" somewhere. If he's at all "local," I would think he travels.

& am still incredibly curious on that necklace. Do you or anyone else happen to know if that necklace is the one on the reconstruction that's so often seen for this Doe? If so, it's great there's an actual picture, but I don't think the necklace on the reconstruction looks "distinctive." Let me get a shot of it in here.

This necklace is very, very small. From this distance, it doesn't scream "distinctive" to me. I'm wondering what exactly about this necklace made it so unique in the eyes of LE.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

View attachment 612451

Leaving aside the question of the necklace, this poor woman could really do with a modern reconstruction. That one makes her look like a first cousin to Shergar.

 

[The4TierBridge]

Leaving aside the question of the necklace, this poor woman could really do with a modern reconstruction. That one makes her look like a first cousin to Shergar.

I don't think good enough pictures of the skull exist for a sketch to be made, and a physical sculpt can't be constructed because they sent her remains to a landfill.

 

[Silvia]

I can't review this right now, but I will try to within the next couple of days. Will see what I can find.
Thanks, Silvia

 

[MelmothTheLost]

I don't think good enough pictures of the skull exist for a sketch to be made, and a physical sculpt can't be constructed because they sent her remains to a landfill.

You're probably right, and if her remains were dumped in landfill and are therefore unretrievable, this case is almost certainly impossible to resolve. Even if the jewellery recovered with the remains was indeed unique, or at least highly distinctive, it's highly unlikely that anyone is alive today who could recognise and identify them.

 

[Silvia]

Still, it is important to research the possible missing women and try to find descendants or other family members, and then eliminate the women who are not her.

 

[The4TierBridge]

You're probably right, and if her remains were dumped in landfill and are therefore unretrievable, this case is almost certainly impossible to resolve. Even if the jewellery recovered with the remains was indeed unique, or at least highly distinctive, it's highly unlikely that anyone is alive today who could recognise and identify them.

They have dental records for her, so if she was a reported missing person from the time period whose case wasn't entirely mismanaged, I think there's a possibility of an identification being able to be made even if that's unlikely.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

They have dental records for her, so if she was a reported missing person from the time period whose case wasn't entirely mismanaged, I think there's a possibility of an identification being able to be made even if that's unlikely.

What will they compare those dental records to? Do we really expect that a long-dead dentist somewhere in the US kept records for a patient who stopped attending his or her clinic in the early 1950s, ie 75 years ago?

 

[snooptroop88]

What will they compare those dental records to? Do we really expect that a long-dead dentist somewhere in the US kept records for a patient who stopped attending his or her clinic in the early 1950s, ie 75 years ago?

Missing persons dentals, MPs. With any kind of dentals, I don't think it's impossible that they could find her. It' s certainly at this point unlikely-- but not impossible.

How many ruleouts are there on this case? I've just seen 55 on the Washoe Jane Doe 1990.

Please tell me we're not looking at ZERO ruleouts after like what... 70 years??

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Missing persons dentals, MPs. With any kind of dentals, I don't think it's impossible that they could find her. It' s certainly at this point unlikely-- but not impossible.

How many ruleouts are there on this case? I've just seen 55 on the Washoe Jane Doe 1990.

Please tell me we're not looking at ZERO ruleouts after like what... 70 years??

Where are they going to get dental charts for a woman who has been missing for almost 75 years? There is no central repository to which US dentists submit charts for patients who stop making or attending appointments, just in case they go missing, and it's not as though they can put an appeal in the dentists' professional journal for someone who died 70+ years ago as they might with the case of a UID found a few years ago.

This woman would have been at least 95 years old if alive today, which gives us an idea of what sort of relatives might still be alive and looking for her, ie her children, grandchildren, nieces/nephews or their descendants. Let's put this in perspective. Let's assume her dentist would have been no younger than his late 20s, so around 100 if alive today. He would have retired at least 30 years ago. Records of his existing patients at his retirement would have been passed on to his successors or, possibly, to whoever his patients went to. But how long do you think a dentist would have kept records of a patient he hadn't seen for decades? There really, really, are not going to be any records for comparison.

 

[snooptroop88]

Where are they going to get dental charts for a woman who has been missing for almost 75 years? There is no central repository to which US dentists submit charts for patients who stop making or attending appointments, just in case they go missing, and it's not as though they can put an appeal in the dentists' professional journal for someone who died 70+ years ago as they might with the case of a UID found a few years ago.

This woman would have been at least 95 years old if alive today, which gives us an idea of what sort of relatives might still be alive and looking for her, ie her children, grandchildren, nieces/nephews or their descendants. Let's put this in perspective. Let's assume her dentist would have been no younger than his late 20s, so around 100 if alive today. He would have retired at least 30 years ago. Records of his existing patients at his retirement would have been passed on to his successors or, possibly, to whoever his patients went to. But how long do you think a dentist would have kept records of a patient he hadn't seen for decades? There really, really, are not going to be any records for comparison.

Understood, it's sounding pretty daunting, but they do have the Doe's dentals in hand already, correct? So if the missing person also has something (even rudimentary information) on file, or there is one remaining relative that can offer even rudimentary information-- I would think that could be of great help.

Agreed the chances of an actual dentist being around to offer info/documentation by this point has to be zero. But I'm thinking there is still hope. Where I'd be concerned is where there's no MP report for her at all, which happens even in more current cases.

 

[phantomstrider]

They have dental records for her, so if she was a reported missing person from the time period whose case wasn't entirely mismanaged, I think there's a possibility of an identification being able to be made even if that's unlikely.

I agree an identification or rule out could be made if they have her dental records. I am more optimistic. But I admit her body being thrown in the landfill still have no idea why they did that btw makes this case very hard to solve. The Gilpin County Coroner almost closed this case due to thinking this doe was Lilian Demaris despite no definitive proof and now that has been ruled out. Also mary henley who was another possible match was also ruled out.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Understood, it's sounding pretty daunting, but they do have the Doe's dentals in hand already, correct? So if the missing person also has something (even rudimentary information) on file, or there is one remaining relative that can offer even rudimentary information-- I would think that could be of great help.

Agreed the chances of an actual dentist being around to offer info/documentation by this point has to be zero. But I'm thinking there is still hope. Where I'd be concerned is where there's no MP report for her at all, which happens even in more current cases.

I suspect that the best they can hope for is being able to rule out any potential matches who were known to have dentures.

 

[snooptroop88]

Could the Gilpin Doe be connected to 1954 Boulder Jane Doe, who was finally identified as Dorothy Gay Howard? Dorothy's death was horrendous also, the killer threw her down a 30 foot embankment into a canyon. She was naked and animals had gotten at the remains. These two cases, Gilpin Doe and Dorothy, are staggering in the sheer brutality and savagery of the means used by the killer(s). And both cases have proved to be extremely difficult in terms of identifying the victims. Dorothy had no fillings or significant dentals, but like a miracle, they still managed to identify her.

https://www.cbdiai.org/uploads/1/2/4/0/124025868/boulder_jane_doe.pdf

Police: Teen missing since 1954 was slain

Police have determined that a young woman buried as Jane Doe in Colorado 55 years ago was Dorothy Gay Howard, whose family watched the decades pass without word of her.

www.nbcnews.com

Boulder Jane Doe Part 5: DNA gives Jane Doe a name

BOULDER — For the past 55 years, she was known as Boulder Jane Doe.For the 18 years before that, she was Dorothy “Dot” Gay Howard, DNA tests confirmed last week.The DNA test…

www.timescall.com

They found nothing with Dorothy, no ring, no watch, nothing. Three hairpins. This reminded me of the three safety pins with the Gilpin Doe.

Dorothy was not local to Boulder. I don't think the Gilpin Doe was, either. Dorothy may have been traveling to Denver. I've thought for a while that this was the case with Gilpin Doe as well. Dorothy had a second husband, much older, when she disappeared. It's unclear to me if her family had ever met him. There are a lot of possibilities here, but am wondering if this is a very early SK. One of the articles says Dorothy had been beaten. We know about the stick found at the Gilpin Doe site with the blood, and LE was speculating the Gilpin Doe may also have been beaten. If it's the same killer, he almost seems like an early version of one of these more contemporary SKs who leaves these horrible scenes for sick "shock value." 54 minutes Blackhawk to Boulder.

Still wondering, too, about that jewelry at Gilpin Doe's site. That earring is a very, very curious little symbol to me, but the picture's difficult to make out. & I still don't see anything distinctive about dark rhinestones, it may just be the lighting in the photograph.

 

[snooptroop88]

This is a timeline for Harvey Glatman, up until reading these articles noted in post above, have never heard of him, a serial killer who was executed in 1959, he's suspected of being the one who murdered Dorothy Gay Howard:

https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/psyc%20405/serial%20killers/glatman,%20harvey.pdf

Quite the criminal history. Very high IQ, model prisoner. Known perversions, SA. Prison. Paroled, living with mom and dad in Denver early 50s (looks like maybe earlier), working as a TV repairman. All set up in Denver in the early 50s, one could speculate that he could have been the perp in the Gilpin case as well as Dorothy's. His father died of diabetes shortly after they found the Gilpin Doe.

Later, he moved to California, where he evidently was an Alcala prototype jmo, soliciting models, would tie them up, SA, photographing the whole thing, strangling them, dumping them in the desert. Three known victims (almost a fourth). Agreed with those noting him with Dorothy, undoubtedly more. Two of the murder victims were models from the photo scam, and the other victim was from contact through a Lonely Hearts ad. He went after certain looks, very light hair, fair features; but also very dark hair, almost black. This is one of his victims, Ruth Mercado:

Very dark hair and prominent teeth.

Three hairpins with Dorothy. Three safety pins with Gilpin Doe. Confessed to three victims. I don't really think there were just three victims, but I find it odd that the number three is coming up so much in terms of his potential and actual victims. He had a fascination with ropes, and he strangled his three known victims. I would think, though, because of the conditions of Dorothy and Gilpin Doe, we probably can't know whether a rope was involved.

The string of rhinestones around Gilpin Doe's neck. Looks like a rope.